Crunch encounter for Foals in Marseille

vor 2 Stunden

Alvaro Dominguez (l.) has featured in nine Bundesliga and two UEFA Europa League matches since joining from Atletico Madrid in the summer Filip Daems (l.) is sidelined for the Marseille match. The skipper scored Borussia's first in their previous encounter... ...before Peniel Mlapa hit the second shortly after coming on in the second half

Munich - Borussia Mönchengladbach are out to maintain their chances of progressing to the first knockout round of the UEFA Europa League when they face Olympique de Marseille on Thursday evening (kick-off 19:00 CET).

After only drawing with AEL Limassol in Cyprus then suffering a disappointing home defeat to Fenerbahce, Gladbach got themselves back on track on Matchday 3 with a crucial 2-0 home success against the team from the southern French port city. That result kept Borussia's fate in their own hands and avoiding defeat at Marseille, with whom they are level on four points, would make for a most satisfactory away-day for the Foals.

Daems: "Have to gain something"

In the opinion of team captain Filip Daems, taking a point from the Stade Velodrome is crucial. "It's clear that we have to get something on Thursday," said the veteran Belgian full-back, while admitting that stopping in-form Marseille on their own patch will be a tough test for his side. "It certainly won't be easy, but we did beat them at home," said Daems, a scorer himself in the first game a fortnight ago.

Unfortunately for Glabach, the skipper will not be available for this one due to an abdominal injury, with Oscar Wendt set to plug the gap. Coach Lucien Favre must also do without first-choice striker Luuk de Jong, who remains sidelined with a knee injury picked up in the home meeting with Marseille. Peniel Mlapa and Igor de Camargo have both found the net recently - the former, indeed, against Thursday's opponents, and are in the frame to start, although Patrick Herrmann may be preferred, either supporting the lone striker or leading the attack himself.

Dominguez calls for focus

Despite this season's mediocre results, Mönchengladbach have looked more solid at the back in recent weeks, where Alvaro Dominguez is adapting better to life in German football. The Spanish centre-back has urged his team to build on their recent achievements, but also warned them of the need to deliver. "We can't make make silly mistakes. We have to stay focused and make our presence felt."

Marseille are second in Ligue 1 after their 2-0 win at AC Ajaccio and are level on points with leaders Paris St. Germain. "It will be a difficult game, Olympique are doing well in the French league," continued Dominguez. "They're experienced and have players of great individual quality." Quite a challenge then for the Foals, but one omen is at any rate a good one: the last time they won an away game in Europe was also against French opposition in the form of AS Monaco. That success was, however, way back in October 1996.